Multiple fuse plug



Aug. 3l 1926. 1,597,854

G. T. wooDlN MULTIPLE FUSE PLUG Filed Oct. 5, 1921 l [/71/6/7/0/ /SUWZ). @kmh/W.

Patented Aug. 3l, 19,26.

GEORGE T. WOODIN, OF NEWPORT, NEW YORK.

MULTIPLE FUSE PLUG.

Application led October 5, 1921. Serial No. 505,456.

This invention relates to multiple fuse plugs, and has for its general object to provide a plug which shall combine efiiciency with convenience of operation, simplicity and compactness of construction. and economy of production. I accomplish the foregoing objects, and other and kmore limited objects which will appear' hereinafter, in and through the constructionand arrangement of parts shown in the drawing forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 represents a central longitudinal sectional view through a multiple fuse plug embodying my invention, the central contact, some of the parts connected thereto, and the fuses being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 a plan view or' the base, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the cap, corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 a detail in section through the central'cooperating portions of the cap and base; and Fig. 5 a sectional' detail corresponding to the line ,5-5`of Fig. 3.v n

Describing the various parts by reference characters, 1 denotes the upper magazine member and 2 the lower socket-connection member of a base. The member 2 is provided with the usual shell plug contact 3 which is adapted to fit a threaded socket Shell contact (not shown). The upper end of the sheet metal of which the contact 3 is composed is flanged inwardly above a flat seat 2a on top of the member 2, the fiange constituting an annular contact surface 4.

The upper member 1 of the base is of any suitable non-conductive material suoli as fibre, preferably cylindrical in shape, and is provided with ak plurality of bores located Within the peripheral portion thereof. Six y.such bores are shown, spaced equidistantly apart and equidistantly from the center or axis of the said member. The bottoms of these bores are located directly above the flange 4, for -a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The members 1 and 2 are secured together, to forma unitary base by means of the central contact 7, which is provided at its lower end with a head 8 adapted to engage the lower end of the member 2. This contact extends upwardly through central bores in both of said members, indicated at 1b and 2", and is provided within a recess 9 in the upper end of the member 1 with a nut 10 which serves to drawk and hold the members 1 and 2 rigidly together.

Mounted within the bores or chambers 5 are'the fuses, each fuse being of the cartridge type and consisting of an ordinary fuse wire (not shown) having its ends in electrical contact with the opposite metallic endsy 11a of a casing 11. Each cartridge fuse isA preferably l. long and I in diameter, the body 11 being of glass and the end caps'being preferably of brass. The fuses are small enough to permit them to be employed with a body 1 of standard dimensions 'and with their lower ends electrically seated upon the flange 4 and their upper ends below the top of such body.

Rotatablyy mounted upon the base and carrying a contact arm electrically connected with the contact 7 is a rotatable cap 13. The upper peripheral portion of this capis preferably knurled, as indicated at 13, the cap being provided with a skirt 13b depending from the body thereof and overlapping the upper end of the member 1. The cap is provided with a central bore 13c having annular extensions 13d and 13e at the top and bottom thereof, respectively. Mounted in the annular extension 13e is a sheet metal hub 14 carrying a contact arm. This arm, which is of resilient met-a1, comprises a radially extending portion 15 and a curved portion 15a which is provided with a downwardly projecting contact finger 16. The bottom of the cap 13 is recessed for the reception of the arm members 15, 15El as indicated at 13. The finoer 16 is adapted to snap into the tops of the bores 5 'and into contact with the upper ends of the fuses successively as the cap is rotated (through the connections to be described) in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. Between the bores 5, it will ride upon the top of the body l, whereby the circuit is opened without arcing between adjacent fuses. The hub 14 is secured to the cap by means of a sleeve 17 having a flange 18 enga-ging beneath said hub and a fiange 18a on the bottom of the extension 13d. The cap 13 is rotatably secured to the body member 1 by means of a cap 19 threaded upon the upper end of the contact 7, within the sleeve 17, and having a flange 19a adapted to engage the fiange 18* of said sleeve.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operation will be readily understood. The base is screwed into its proper socket, with the finger 16 pressing downwardly into a bore and upon the top ot a cartridge 11 wherel y, when a switch is closed at the proper place, a circuit will be established through the shell plug contact 3, flange 1, the appropriate i'use, the iinger 1G, the arm 15, 15a, the members 17 and 19, and the central Contact T. Should the particular i'use wire in use burn out, it is necessary only to turn the cap 13 sixty degrees, thereby bringing the Contact linger 1G into eng gement vf-ith the cap of another fuse, whereupon the circuit wiil again be established through the fuse plug. The shape ogt the arm 15, 15 and finger 1G and the location o'lr the fuses will cause the tinger to L4"snap" into place in contact with the new fuse and thus enable the operator to determine, by the ear, as well as by the sense ot feeling, when` the cap has beennioved a su'tlicient distance to canse the Enger to engage the top of a fuse. The top ot the cap 13 will be provided with an Iarrow indicating the direction of rotation, thereby to prevent the operator from attempting to move the arm 15 above and in engagement with the cap ot a burned-out `luse. Should such attempt be made, the tinger 16 and arm 1 5, l5@- act as a detent pawl through the engagement oll the end ot the iinger with the wall of the bore in which it may be positioned. Persistence in such attempt will cause the plug as a whole to be rotated and to be unscrewed irom its socket, thus permitting removal of the plug, if desired, as well as warning the operator as to the direction in which he is rotating the cap.

lhen all of the fuses have been burned out, the cap may be easily removed and new cartridge 'fuses inserted into the chambers 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

ln a device of the character described, the combination ot' a base having a shell plug contact member' and a body member thereabove, the latter member heilig provided with a plurality ot' bores surrounding the axis thereof, of a central contact connecting the said members, a cap rotatably mounted upon the base andI the second contact and having rigid therewith a resilient metallic arm having a radially extendine' portion and an arcuate portion substantially concentric with the axis of rotation ot' said cap, the second portion of the arm being provided with an a'ngularly deflected portion defining a finger adapted to drop. into the tops of the bores successively through the rotation ot the cap `in one direction and to serve as a detent in connection with said bores when the cap is rotated in the opposite direction, and a fuse casing in each or said bores each having its lower end in electrical engagement with the first mentioned contact andy having its upper end beneath the top ot' its bore.

In testimony whereof, hereunto aliix my signature.

GEORGE T. VOODIN. 

